Chocolate Thumbprint Turtle Cookies
Delightful cookies filled with gooey caramel, topped with a drizzle of chocolate and sprinkled with pecans, combining rich flavors in a beautiful thumbprint design.
Ingredients
Cookie Base
- 1/2 cup salted butter Softened
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg (separated) Use yolk for the dough, white for coating
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling and Topping
- 1 cup pecans (finely chopped)
- 3/4 cup Kraft Caramel Bites or 16 unwrapped caramel squares
- 1/2 teaspoon water For melting caramel
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon shortening For smooth chocolate drizzle
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
- Add the egg yolk, milk, and vanilla extract to the mixture until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.
Shaping Cookies
- Divide the chilled dough into about 20 equal pieces and roll each into a ball.
- Dip each ball in the whisked egg white, then roll in the chopped pecans.
- Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and make an indentation in the center of each with your finger.
Baking
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, do not overbake.
- If necessary, press the indents again with a spoon after removing from the oven.
Filling and Drizzling
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramel bites and water, heating in intervals until melted and smooth.
- Pour the melted caramel into the center of each cookie.
- Melt the semisweet chocolate and shortening together in another bowl, then drizzle over the cookies using a ziplock bag.
Notes
Allow cookies to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Can be frozen for up to three months. For variations, consider different fillings or nut toppings.